The Technical, Aerodynamic & Performance Aspects of a Helicopter

This book covers all the aspects that a pilot, engineer, or a would-be pilot or engineer, needs to know in order to understand why a helicopter does what it does, how it can be made to do what the pilot desires, how the mechanics of a helicopter work and how they perform their function, as well as the performance aspects of a helicopter.

I’ve always enjoyed passing knowledge onto others, and in a career spanning over 50 years with varied experiences, I’ve gained a lot of experience to pass on, and this book is another means of passing that knowledge on to students, pilots, engineers, and instructors. Safety has always been uppermost in my approach to flying, flying training, maintenance and all other aspects of aviation, and this is reflected in all my publications.

I've spent over 50 years in the aviation industry as an engineer, pilot, instructor and examiner. After 22 years of touring throughout Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Isles and the Antarctic as a pilot and engineer for four different companies, I was recruited to start the helicopter air wing for the Victoria police. During my time there as Chief Pilot and Chief Engineer, I conducted all their endorsement, rescue and instrument training, and I also trained a number of engineers up to license standard. I then started Professional Helicopter Services (PHS), which grew into one of the largest and most successful helicopter pilot training schools and charter companies in Australia. I’ve now sold that company to my Son and two ex-students. Because of the lack of suitable theory training material when I started PHS, I wrote a comprehensive online aviation theory course (www.OnlineAviationTheory.com) for both helicopters and aeroplanes. I’ve also written two technical books on helicopters, as well as pilot briefing notes for both helicopters and aeroplanes. In 1986, I purchased BOAB AIR SERVICES, in Kununurra (the northern-most town in Western Australia). Boab operated 5 single and twin engine aeroplanes on general charter work and tourist operations to the Bungle Bungles, and 5 Hughes 300s used for mustering. I added a Cessna 206 and a Jet Ranger and started helicopter tours to the Bungle Bungles. But after 2 years, the problems with maintaining a suitable standard at a base 2,950 km from our Melbourne base led me to selling it to a local operator. I wrote the print version of this book, THE TECHNICAL, AERODYNAMIC & PERFORMANCE ASPECTS OF A HELICOPTER several years ago in response to a number of requests from pilot shops and students wanting an easy to read book based on the technical, aerodynamic and performance aspects of a helicopter, which seemed like a good title for the book. I've just been informed (June 2015) that I've been awarded the very prestigious title of MASTER AIR PILOT (certificate number 1155) from THE HONOURABLE COMPANY OF AIR PILOTS (www.airpilots.org), with the certificate being signed by His Royal Highness, The Duke of York. I had not heard of this organisation, so to be inducted (without my knowledge) into this elite group consisting of pilots, engineers and navigators, with a world-wide membership of not much over 1,000 since its inception in 1929 is extremely flattering.